Latch mechanism



May 14, 1935;

J. w. STRIBLING 2,001,507

LATCH MECHANI SM Filed Aug. 16, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet l A TTORNEYS.

J. w. STRIBLING 2,001,507

LATCH MECHANISM Filed Aug. 16, 1934' 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Jo/1; J44 62227 112 7.

ATTORNEYS.

I Patented May 14, 1935 h h h r h UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LATCH MECHANISM John W. Stribling, Detroit, lilich, assignor to George Hunt, Detroit, Mich.

Application August 16, 1934, Serial No. 740,105 10' Claims. (01. 217-60) This invention relates to latch mechanism of length during a predetermined range of movethe type adaptable to hold a lid, door, or any ment between said members in one direction other pivoted panel or member in open position only. and adapted tobe automatically released from.. The above being amo g the Objects of the its latched relation by a further opening movepresent invention, the same consists in certain 5 ment of the member, the principal object being novel features of construction and combinations the provision of a device of this type that is simof parts to be hereinafter described with refer- -ple in construction, eflicient in operation and ence to the accompanying drawings, and then ecohomicaltto produce, I i claimed, having'the above and other objects in Objects of the invention include the provision VieW- I of a device of the class described including a pair In the accompanying draw n s which 111115- of members movably. associated with each other, trate suitable embodiments o t e p esen inohe of t members being provided t one r vention and in which like numerals refer to like more ratchet teeth'and the other member being Darts througheut the Several difierent V w provided with pivotal dog engageable with the t Us a fragmentary side elevational view of 15 ratchet teeth; the provisionof a construction as a motel V l provided in its rear wall with above described in .which the members maybe a Pivotal Panel Cover, the Panel being S w moved to cause the dog to pass completely over in p Position and P Of the Vehicle y the ratchet teeth, the dog being so mounted that being o n r n w y to bet er illustrate the upon reversal of movement of the members the dog will ride over the teeth during the reverse an enlarged fragmentary slde v movement; the provision oi. a construction as tlonal of O P latch members above described wherein means are provided for Ployed 1 conflection Wlth h pivotal P l restoring the dog to its operative position for 'encover shown In l gagement with theratchet. teeth after the dog r a 3 e a seohonal w taken o the line 25 has been drawn over the teeth in a reverse direc- 0f F tion; and the provision of a latch mechanism 4 IS a View similar to Fig. 2 but on a. r including a pair of members movabiy associated duced scale and illustrating the position of the with each other, one f which is provided with members after the dog has passed over the ratchet ratchet teeth and the other of which is provided teeth dur mg 098111115 movement? I 30 with a dog engageable therewith and in which 5 1s a Vlew slmllar to 2 Showing a the dog may be caused to pass completely over the modlfied f P P ratchet teeth to permit, the dog to be automati- 6 1S 5 MW slmllar to a- 2 showmg cally moved out of normal operative engagement othfar q q P constljuction' therewith, means being provided-for effecting a 5 new slmnar 1 showmg the 35 sensible signal to the operator of the latch mechapp11cat.1n of anQther modified form of latch anism to indicate the pivotal position of the memmechanism to rear panel or cover of bers relative to one another at about the time the dog is about to pass beyond the end of the fi i z ggfif g zfi g ig gg ii 40 40 ratchet teeth during opening movement; the roe vision of a latch device including'a. pair of s trip mechanism bemg shown m posltlon to hold r the panel or cover in open position. metal members vot ll m a y connected togeth-er the Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8 but showing yond t pivotal point thereof and being bent the latch mechanism moved beyond its normal out of alignment with the longitudinal axis of the fully open position o as to release it to permit 45 member, the end of such'bent, end portion-being the Panel cover to be Closedformed to provide ratchet teeth, and a dog being 10 is an lar d se ti nal view taken on pivotally mounted upon the other of the memthe line of bers in a position to engage said ratchet teeth; Generally speaking, it is old in the art to and the provision of a latch device including a vide a latch mechanism in combination i a pair f members li longitudinally t lid or other pivoted cover or panel of such a conspect to each th r o 0f th members being struction that when the lid is opened to a. normal provided th t h tt t and th other being extent the latch mechanism will operate to hold provided with a dog engageable ith d t t it in such position and when it is desired to close 35 for locking the members against retraction in he l d, cove or othe p vot d pa el it is i y opened to an extent beyond its normal fully opened position to automatically release the latching mechanism and permit the lid, cover or pivoted panel to close without the necessity of manually effecting the release of the latching mechanism. As far as I am aware, however, the constructions heretofore proposed have been of a rather complicated nature, too liable to injury by hard usage or unduly expensive to produce. Accordingly, the principal object of the present invention is to provide a device as above described which is efficient in operation, rugged in construction and both simple and economical to produce.

Although the present invention is not to be limited in its use thereto as it is usable in connection with any pivoted closure or the like, it is particularly applicable for'use in connection with the rear decks or rear panels of motor vehicle bodies and, accordingly,'its application thereto will be described, its application to other devices or members being apparent therefrom. As is well understood in the art, motor vehicle bodies of the coupe or roadster type are provided with back decks having pivotable covers or lids by means of which access may be gained to the interior of the back deck. More recently bodies of the sedan or coach typehave been provided with pivotal panels in the rear wall through which access may be gained to a storage com- I partmentin advance of such wall for the purpose of storing tires or other material therein. Heretofore it has ufacturers to provide such lids or covers with a simple latch'mechanism which usually is self latching when the lid or cover is raised but which must be manually released by the operator when it is desired to close the lid orcover. Inview of the fact that such lids or covers are becoming of larger dimensions and of heavier construction and because of the inevitable collection of dust in and around such covers, it not only becomes a hardship to release such lids or covers together with the risk of the operator soiling his wearing apparel, but additionally, unless care is exercised upon release, the lid or cover may fall and cause injury to the operator. Thepresent invention is particularly designed for use in connection with such lids or covers so as to obviate the heretofore existing disadvantages therein. 4

Referring now to the accompanying drawings, in Fig. 1 an automobile body is illustrated generally at in and as having a rear wall l2. The rear wall I2 is provided with an opening l4 therein and a panel or cover 16 pivotally connected thereto by hinge members 16 situated at its upper edge. It will be understood that upon opening the cover I6 access may be had through the opening M to acompartment 20 between the rear seat.

(not shown) of the body 16 and the rear wall l2 for the purpose of storing tires or other material therein. A latch mechanism illustrated generally at 22 is provided for holding the cover IS in raised position when desired. This latch mechanism is shown in detail in Figs. 2, 3 and and, as illustrated in those figures, is seen to consist of two strip metal members 24 and 26, respectively, the cooperating ends of which are pivotally connected together as by means of the rivet 28. It will be understood as illustrated in Fig. 1 that the opposite ends of the members 24 and 26 are pivotally connected as at 30 and 32, respectively. to the lid l6 and body I6, respectively.

The member 24 has fixed thereto as by means ment with the ratchet teeth 42.

been the custom of body manof the rivet 2a and an additional rivet 34,-a segmental shaped plate 36. The plate 36 has a generally arcuately shaped edge 36 whose center is coincident with the axis of the rivet 26 and the plate 36 is secured to the member 24 with one edge thereof aligned with the edge ofthe member 24. The surface 38 of the plate 36 adjacent the member 24 is cut out or notched as at 46 for a purpose which will hereinafter be described, and the edge 33 is also formed to provide a plurality of ratchet teeth 42 thereon. The plate 36 atthe end of the surface 36 opposite the notch 40 is formed to provide an abnormally long or extended tooth or projection 44.

A dog 46 is pivotally secured between its ends to the member 26 by means of a rivet 46, the dog 46 being positioned on that face of the member 26 to bring it into coplanar relationship with respect'to the plate 36 and it is so positioned on the member 26 as to locate it for operative engage- A coil spring 66 between that end 62 and a pin 64 is maintained under tension of the dog 46 opposite its point fixed to the member 26. v a

The latch is shown in its normal fully'open operative position in Fig-'2 wherein it will be noted that the point 62 of the dog 46 is engaged against the last ratchet tooth '42 next adjacent the ab normally long tooth or projection 44 and in such position prevents clockwise :movement of the member 26 with respect to the member 24. When I the latch is in the position indicated in Fig. 2 and employed'in the construction illustrated in Fig. 1 it will be apparent that the cover I6 will be held in its normally fully open position. If the latch'mechanism is now moved from the position indicated in Fig. 2 to that illustrated in full lines in Fig. 4, as by lifting the rear or free'edge of the cover I6 upwardly beyond its normal fully open position, the member 26 will be caused to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction with respect to the member 24 and the point 62 of the dog 46 will be caused to ride over the, abnormally long tooth or projection until it is completely free thereof as indicated in Fig. 4. It now the rear or free edge of the cover I6 is allowed to drop so as to cause wise direction withrespect to the member 24 the abnormally long tooth or projection will cause the dog 46 to rotate in a clockwise direction as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 4 and, upon con-. tinued clockwise direction of movement of the member 26 with respect to the member 24, the point 62 of the dog 46 will simply ride over the teeth 42 and the cover l6 may thus bemoved to closed position. When the cover is in closed position the point 62 of thedog 46 will drop into the notch 40.

Assuming now, that the. point 62 of. the dog 46 lies within the notch and the cover I6 is in closed position, ifit is desired to open the cover l6 the lower or rear edge thereof is grasped and lifted thus causing the member 26 to move in themember 26 to move in a clockcounter-clockwise direction of movement with respect to the member 24, bringing 'the'point'ed end of the dog 46 into contact with the left-hand edge of the notch 46 as illustrated inFlgs. '2 and 4 and this will cause the dog 46 to be rotated.

normally long tooth or proper engagement with the dog to turn it to operative position even though the dog should stick slightly and its point 52 not be moved to its fullest extent under the influence of the spring 50 when in the notch 40. Should the opening movement of the cover I6 be discontinued while the point 52 is passing over any of the teeth 42 during opening movement of the cover I6 it will engage the corresponding tooth 42 and hold the cover I6 against closing from such position. As will also be understood, if it is desired to close the cover from such position it is first necessary to' open it beyond its normal fully open position so as to again bring the dog 46 beyond the abnormally long tooth or projection 44 to again permit the position of the dog 46 to be reversed as indicated in Fig. 4.

By this simple and efficient means the cover I6 may be automatically latched in any elevated position corresponding to the particular tooth 42 which the dog 46 engages and when it is desired to close the cover I6 all that is necessary is to elevate or open the cover I6 to the proper extent and then allow it to close. essary with'this device to manually unlock the latch with all of the attendant dangers and disagreeableness thereof when it is desired to close the cover I6.

It will be understood that-the abnormally long tooth or projection 44 is not essential to the above described operation of the latch shown, the abprojection 44 being provided for the following reasons. 'If the projection 44 was not employed it might be difficult for those uninitiated with the normal fully open latch position of the cover I6 to accurately determine such position and they might inadvertently open the cover I6 to such a great extent as to cause the dog 46 to ride over the end tooth 42 when opening the cover and thus reverse the positioning of the dog 46 so as to permit the cover to drop. The projecting end of the tooth or projection 44 is projected into closely adjacent relationship with respect to the rivet 48 forming the pivotal support for the dog 46 when these two parts are aligned, so that in opening the cover I6 as soon as the point 52 of the dog 46 has passed over the last ratchettooth 42 in the direction of opening movement, the tooth or projection 44 will contact the dog 46 and, because of its abnormally projecting end and the tension of the spring 50, will require a considerably increased amount of effort to cause the abnormal pivoting movement of the dog46 required to rotate it sufficiently to permit it to pass over the tip of the tooth or projection 44. This increased amount of resistance to forcing the dog 46 over the end of the tooth or projection 44 is a sensible signal to the operator of the cover I6 to indicate when the cover I6 has been raised toits normal fully open position and thus serves as an alarm to indicate that further movement of the cover I6 toward open position will result in releasing the latch mechanism.

In Fig. 5 a modified form ofconstruction is shown which is identical to the construction shown in the previously described figures with thefexception that the plate 36 is replaced by a plate 60. In this case the arcuate outer surface 62 of the plate 60 ispositioned at such a distance from the axis of the rivet 28 that the point 52 of the dog 46 will clear it when positioned over such surface. Only two latching ratchet teeth .64 and 66 arefprovided in this case, thus more closely limiting the positioning at which the cover I6 Thus it is not necmay be latched in open position. The tooth 66 in this case is extended asat 6.8 so that when the latch is being opened as by raising the cover I6 the end of the extension 68 will contact the dog, 46 and rotate it to the proper position for previously described is provided in this construc tion.

The tooth 68 is also shown extended beyond the tooth 64in a manner similar to the tooth I0 so that the dog 46 in contacting and being forced over the tooth 68 during opening movement will offer a sensible resistance which will be transmitted to the operator as an indication that latching position has been reached. This is particularly desirable where only a few teeth are employed as in such case the permissible latching position is more or less limited.

' In Fig. 6 a still more simpleform of construction is shown in which the members I4 and I6 correspond to the members 24 and 26 previously described and are pivotally connected together by means of a rivet I8. In this case instead of providing a separate plate such as 36 or 60, the end of the member 1.4 is extended as at but is angularly oiTset with respect to the length of the member I4. The outer end of the extension 80 is formed to provide a pair of ratchet teeth 82 for cooperation with a dog 84 pivoted to the member I6 by means of the rivet 86 and adapted for cooperation with the ratchet teeth 82 in the same manner as the construction previously described. A spring 88 maintained under tension between the end of the dog 84 opposite its point and a suitable anchor 90 serve the same purpose as .the spring 50 previously described. The projecting end 80 of the member "is provided with an abnormally long or extending tooth or projection 92 corresponding in construction and function to the teeth or projections 44 and I0 previously described and is also provided with a notch 94 serving the same purpose as the notch 40 described in connection with Figs. 2, 3 and 4. I

In the construction illustrated in Figs. 2 to 5 inclusive, the plates 36 and 60 are preferably made separately from the member 24 for economy in manufacture and are preferably riveted in place as described so that rights and lefts may be made up from identical pieces. In the construction illustrated in Fig. 6, both members I4 and I6 may be made of strip stock and without bending them out of the normal plane of their wide faces.

In Figs. '7 to 10, inclusive, a modified form of latch construction is shown'including a pair of members which are slidably, instead of pivotally connected together, and which is illustrated generally in Fig. 7 at I00 as comprising two main members I 02 and I 04, respectively. The outer end of the member I02 is pivotally connected as by means of a rivet I06 to a bracket I08 fixed to the cover I6, and the inner end of the member I04 is pivotally connected by means ofa rivet I I0 toa bracket I I2 secured to the framing of the opening I4 in the body I 0, although, as will hereinafter be apparent, this end of the member' l04 may be lo cated inwardly of the opening' l4 if desired. In the construction shown, when the cover I6 is in closed position the latch mechanism I00 will lie in substantially parallelism thereto.

Referring now to Figs. 8 to 10, inclusive, it will be notedthat themember I02 is formed from a strip of sheet or plate metal and that end thereof opposite itspoint of pivotal connection with the bracket I is formed on one edge to provide one or more ratchet teeth I I4 bounded at one end by a notch I I6,.corresponding in function to the notch 40 in a previously described construction, and providing a hook-like projection I II at that end thereof nearest the teeth II4 for the same purpose as in'the previously described construction. Also at the opposite end of the teeth II4 the edge of the member I02 is cut awayto provide a notch I20 of sufficient depth to permit the corresponding dog, which will hereinafter be described, to swing freely therein between operative and inoperative positions.

The member I04 is preferably formed from a strip of sheet metal which is wider than the width of the member I02 and its opposite edge margins are reversely bent as at I22, as best brought out in Fig. 10, so as to receive and confine opposite side edges of the member I02 thereunder and thus guide the member I02 for relative longitudinal movement longitudinally of the member I04. A portion of that edge of the member I04 corresponding to that edge of the member I02 formed to provide teeth II4 and notches H8 and I20, instead of being reversely bent to form a guide for the member I02 is" allowed to remain in coplanar relationship with respect to the main body portion of the member I04 as at I24, and a dog I26 corresponding to the dog 40 previously described is pivotedthereto by means of arivet I20 in a position to enable it to engage the teeth I I4 during a predetermined range of movement of the members I02 and I04. The dog I28 is provided with an arm I30 between which and a pin I32 on the portion I24 a coil spring I34 is normally maintained under tension. It will be understood that the dog I26 cooperates with the teeth II4 in a manner substantially similar to the corresponding parts of the construction previously described. In'other words, if the cover I0 is in closed position and is lifted or opened it will cause a relative withdrawal of the member I02 from ,the'member I04 and as soon as this movement is sufiiclent to bring the dog I20 into the notch H6 the hook II8 will engage the dogand upon continued opening movement of the cover I I0 will Cir cause the dog I26 to be pivoted to its operative position so that when brought into but not beyond engagement with the ratchet teeth II4 it will cooperate with one of the teeth II4 to prevent retraction of the member I02. relative to the member I04 and will thus lock the cover I0 in open position. If it is desired to close the cover I0 from its normal fully open position, it is simply opened to an extent suflicient to cause the members I02 and 'I04to move sufllciently to bring the point of the dog H0 into the notch I20, and then upon allowing the cover I0 to move in a direction of closing, the dog I 20 will engage the walls of the notch I20 and will be caused thereby to pivot to inoperative position and thereupon allow the member I02 to be freely retracted into the member I04 and thus permit the cover I6 to be moved to fully closed position.

' Other modifications of the structures herein. shown and described will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon disclosure of the principle here involved and, aecordingly,it will be understood that formal changes may be made in the specific embodiment of the invention disclosed without departing from the spirltor substance of the ,broad invention, the scope of which is commensurate with the appended claims.

What is claimed is: 1. A latch mechanism comprising, in combination, a pair of members connected together for movement relative to each other, ratchet teeth fixed to one of said members, and a dog pivotally moun'ted'on the other of said membersin a position to be engageable with said teeth within a predetermined range of movement between-said members, means acting on said dog tending to move it toward a neutral position, the first mentioned member having means so constructed and arranged relative to said dog and ratchet teeth,

as to cause said dog to pivot between operative and inoperative positions upon reversal of movement of said members after relative movement thereof in either direction beyond said-predetenmined range of movement.

2. A latch mechanism comprising, in combina tion, a pair of members connected together for movement relative to one another, ratchet teeth fixed with respect to one of said members, a dog pivotally mounted on the other of said members in a position to be engageable with said teeth 7 within a predetermined range of movement be-' tween, said members, spring means constantly urging said dog toward a predetermined position of rotation, and the first mentionedmember, having means so constructed and arranged relative to said ratchet-teeth and dog that upon reversal of alternately opposite movements between said members beyond" said predetermined movable with respect to each other to positions beyond oppositelimits of said predetermined range of movement to bring saiddog out or a positionof contact with said teeth, said members having means so constructed and arranged relativeto said dog and teeth that reversal of movement thereof after movement thereof beyond said predetermined range of movement in alternately opposite directions will cause said dog to be alternately moved between operative and inoperative positions, and means fixed with respect to the firstmentioned member engageable with said dog when said dog is about to pass out of said predetermined range of movement in one direction to set up a sensible resistance to further relative movement between said members in said direction.

4. A latch mechanism comprising, in combination, a pair of members pivotally connected together, teeth on one of said members, a dog pivotally mounted on the other of said members in a position to be engageable withsaid teeth within a predetermined range of pivotal movement between said members, means'acting .on said dog tending to move it into,a neutral position, the first of said members having means so constructed and arranged relative to said teeth and dogastoengage said dog and alternately shift it between operative and inoperative positions with respect to said teeth when said members are moving toward said predetermined range of movement from alternately opposite directions.

5. A latch mechanism comprising, in combination, a pair of members pivotally connected together, ratchet teeth fixed with respect to one of said members, a dog pivotally mounted on the other of said members in a position to be engageable with said teeth within a predetermined range of movement between said members, spring means constantly urging said dog toward a predetermined position of rotation, the first mentioned member having means so constructed and arranged relative to said teeth and dog that upon reversal of alternately opposite movement between said members beyond said predetermined range of movement said dog W111 be caused to be alternately moved between two different pivotal positions thereof, and means for effecting a sensible resistance to further pivotal movementlbetween said members when said dog is about to pass beyond said teeth during movement of said members in one direction.

6. A,latch mechanism comprising, in combination, a pair 'of strip metal members pivotally connected together, the end of one of said members projecting beyond the point of pivota1 connection of said members and being bent out of longitudinal alignment with the main body portion thereof, teeth formed on the free end edge of said end, and a dog pivoted to the other of said members in a position to be engaged by said teeth within a predetermined range of movement of said members.

7. A latch mechanism comprising, in combination, a'pair of members arranged for longitudinal sliding movement with respect to each other, ratchet teeth fixed with respect to one of said members, a dog movably mounted on the other of said members in a position to be engageable with said teeth within a predetermined range of movement between said members, the first mentioned member being so constructed and arranged as to permit said dog to move between operative and inoperative positions when relatively moved in either direction beyond its range of normal operative engagement with said teeth.

8. A latch mechanism comprising, in combination, a sheet metal member having Opposite marginal edges thereof reversely bent in spaced relation to the main body portion of said member to form a pair of spaced guides, a strip-like member slidably received by and confined in said guides, a portion of said edges being unbent and extending in the general plane of the main body portion of said member, teeth formed on that edge of the second mentioned member corresponding to the edge of the first mentioned member upon which said portion is located, said second member having notches formed in the toothed edge thereof at either end of said teeth, and a dog pivoted to said portion in a position to be engageable with said teeth upon a predetermined range of movement between said mem-- bers and being freely movable through said notches when aligned therewith.

9. A latch mechanism comprising, in combination, a pair of members connected together for movement relative to one another, ratchet teeth fixed with respect to one of said members, a dog pivotally mounted on the other of said members in a position to be engageable with said. teeth predetermined range of movement said dog will be caused to be engagement with said dog to thereby ofier an abnormal resistance to movement of said members toward operative engagement upon contact between said dog and said means.

10. A latch mechanism comprising, in combination, a pair of members pivotally connected together, ratchet teeth fixed with respect to one a dog pivotally mounted on the other of said members in a position to be engageable with said teeth within a predetermined range of movement between said members, spring means constantly urging said dog toward a pre-- determined position of rotation, the first mentioned member having means so constructed and arranged relative to said teeth and dog that upon reversal of alternately opposite movement between said members beyond said predetermined range of movement said dog will be caused to be alternately moved between two different pivotal positions thereof, and means for effecting a sensible resistance to further pivotal movement between said members when said dog is about to enter said predetermined range of movement during movement of said members toward latching position.

JOHN W. S'I'RIBLING. 

